Jan 2, 2025; San Jose, California, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning proper wing Nikita Kucherov (86) shoots the puck throughout the third interval towards San Jose Sharks middle Macklin Celebrini (71) at SAP Heart at San Jose. Necessary Credit score: Stan Szeto-Imagn Pictures The perils of a California street swing that featured three video games in 4 nights took their toll on Tampa Bay final week, leaving the Lightning aiming to rekindle a all of the sudden stagnant offense.
After managing one aim in every of its losses at San Jose, Los Angeles and Anaheim, Tampa Bay returns house to host the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night time.
The Lightning began the journey with a 2-1 loss to the Sharks final Thursday earlier than falling to the Kings by the identical rating two nights later. The offensive struggles continued Sunday in a 4-1 loss to the Geese that matched a season-long four-game skid for Tampa Bay.
“In the long run, we scored three targets in three video games,” stated Lightning coach Jon Cooper, who appeared as drained and dejected after Sunday’s recreation as his group did on the ice.
“It is powerful to win if you’re not scoring, and we have been used to scoring so much this 12 months. Lot of fellows on this group who’re used to placing it in could not put them in on this journey.”
Anthony Cirelli (15 targets this season), Victor Hedman (5 targets) and Jake Guentzel (21 targets) tallied for Tampa Bay in California. The Lightning entered the journey main the NHL with 3.94 targets per recreation however have since dropped to second at 3.70.
“That is powerful to swallow,” Cooper stated.
Carolina has earned factors in 4 of its previous 5 video games (3-1-1) courting again to a 5-2 win on Dec. 28 towards New Jersey. As he did in that win, top-line middle Sebastian Aho has performed a pivotal function within the Hurricanes’ success this season.
Aho had a aim and an help to assist Carolina beat the Devils, and he buried the game-winner in Sunday’s 4-3 additional time victory over Pittsburgh. It was Aho’s thirteenth aim this season and put him at 600 profession factors, becoming a member of Ron Francis and Eric Staal as the one gamers in franchise historical past to take action.
“This final short while right here he is been very noticeable,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour stated of Aho, who was solely on the ice for seven seconds in additional time. “Even when he is not on the rating sheet he is been round it. That is the man we want and also you typically see.”
Aho has seven factors in his final 5 video games (two targets, 5 assists), leaving him with 43 factors this season. He trails solely Martin Necas, who has 47 factors, together with a team-high 32 assists. Jack Roslovic leads Carolina with 17 targets.
Seth Jarvis is coming off a two-goal, one help effort towards Pittsburgh and has eight factors in his final 5 contests.
Tuesday’s recreation is the make-up of an Oct. 12 contest that was postponed as a result of results of Hurricane Milton in southern Florida.
Tampa Bay notched a 4-1 win at Carolina within the groups’ season-opener on Oct. 11. Nikita Kucherov tallied a third-period hat trick to propel the Lightning to the win. Kucherov leads Tampa Bay with 55 factors and had an help on Sunday.
–Subject Degree Media
